Ohio to fund local park projects

Associated PressPublished: June 23, 2014 4:00AM

COLUMBUS -- Ohio's Department of Natural Resources says it will award $3.9 million to local park projects across the state.

The department is accepting applications for grants to help local communities with those projects. The funding through the state NatureWorks Grant Program is available for cities, villages, counties, townships, park districts and conservancy districts

State officials say applicants and project scopes must meet eligibility requirements under the NatureWorks Program. Applications for the funding must be postmarked by Sept. 1.

The grant money is part of nearly $8 million the Ohio General Assembly allocated to the NatureWorks Program for the next two fiscal years.

The Department of Natural Resources is currently offering half of those funds for local park projects that can be started as early as spring 2015.